Lotto taking three leaders to the Tour de France, they get support from these five riders

We already knew the leaders of Lotto’s Tour selection. “De Lie will be there, even though the timing was tight,” said team boss Stéphane Heulot earlier. “He is ready for this Tour. I prefer to see the glass as half full. He wants to prove a lot and will start doing so from Sunday in Binche,” referring to the Belgian Championship where De Lie was defending his title. That didn’t work out, as he finished 75th on the day.

In the Tour de France, alongside De Lie, Lotto will also rely on two other leaders: Lennert Van Eetvelt and Jenno Berckmoes. “We’re working with a three-headed snake. Arnaud is there, aiming for stage wins that suit him. Van Eetvelt is there, with the goal of a good place in the general classification. We’re focusing on stages that suit him, but we’re not ruling out a good top-10 finish.”

Berckmoes will be the third head of that three-headed snake. The Belgian recently won at the Baloise Belgium Tour. “Given his profile and the form he is currently in, there are also some very interesting stages coming up. Our leadership will revolve around these three riders, and we will complete the team with the support they need,” Heulot said earlier about him.

On Tuesday, the Belgian team officially announced its Tour squad via X. Alec Segaert is not included, as the Belgian was left out of the selection. The Belgians who, alongside the previously mentioned leaders, will travel to Lille are Jasper De Buyst, Sébastien Grignard, and Brent Van Moer. Together, they account for nine Tour appearances.

The selection is completed by two non-Belgians: Jarrad Drizners and Edoardo Sepúlveda. The climber from Argentina returns to the Tour de France after an eight-year absence, while the Australian will be lining up for his second Grand Départ.